It's all in the Sunglasses

Where would fashion be without eye wear? These days it doesn’t matter if you really need a pair of shades or not. It doesn’t even matter if you don’t really need a pair of prescription glasses to read a book because eye wear is no longer about the need for a pair of glasses any more. On the other hand, the right eye wear has become a must have fashion accessory.

 To the extent that people who don’t really need glasses, sometimes wear them just to project a more professional image. The power of this fashion accessory just cannot be denied. It can jazz up an otherwise ordinary outfit, make heads turn on the street and not surprisingly is the constant companion of celebrities and fashion icons.

It’s ironic that wearing glasses were not always considered cool and hip. In fact for a very long time, glasses per se were associated with old people who were in their prime. The thinking slowly changed, and people who wore glasses were thought of as wise and educated with a love for books. Then in 1929, Sam Forster created the first pair of sunglasses and within one year, the trend of wearing eye wear as protection from the sun caught on.

 American pilots were among the first people to wear sunglasses as eye protection while on duty. In 1936, Ray Ban created the first anti glare aviator sunglasses for pilots fighting in the Second World War. The popularity of sunglasses as a fashion item really caught on in the early sixties and thanks to the hippie era in particular; they became a must have accessory. Celebrities and other icons also wore sunglasses to enhance their fashion statement.

Today the eye wear industry has many well known brands which are in the business of not only merging technology with the best designs, but also enhancing the overall style quotient of the wearer. In fact, many brands showcase upcoming or yet to be unveiled designs at fashion shows. Big names like Chanel, Gucci and Dior often have their models wearing the latest fashion wear with sunglasses to complete the intended look.

Sunglasses are an important accessory in urban wear too.

 It’s not unusual for rap and hip hop artists to flash the latest designer eye wear, or to be in the public eye wearing flashy oversized sunglasses. As with urban wear itself, the idea is to allow each item in the ensemble to stand out on its own. Sunglasses in retro shades and styles, with colorful rims or with designs like polka dots on them are quite common as well.

If you are on the lookout for some cool shades to wear with your streetwear, check out sites like www.yukka.com or www.karmaloop.com. These sites have a good collection of sunglasses featuring different brands as well as unique tints and cool styles. The best way to look fresh each time is to have a few sunglasses that can be mixed and matched with any outfit making you look hot and cool at the same time.

It All About The Jeans

If there is one garment that is truly universal, then it is undoubtedly the humble jeans. Denim itself evolved from humble beginnings, with coal miners often wearing them at work, because the material was tough and did not tear easily. Moreover it could be washed time and again, without the color fading or the material itself coming apart. Jeans slowly made their way into retail shops and truly hit the mark, after celebrities made on screen appearances wearing them.

For a long time, jeans were associated with rebels and especially the youth. A guy in a pair of denims and a leather jacket, was thought to be the epitome of cool. Today jeans have come a long way with comfortable pairs being made even for infants. Plenty of designers and labels have all jumped in, to tap the potential that this huge market offers. After all, nothing spells comfort better than a pair of jeans with a t-shirt to match. Jeans are looked as a unisex garment which can be dressed up or dressed down depending on the occasion. A pair of jeans is no longer about just the color- it’s also about the style, fit, wash, rise, length, cut and the label.

One of the best selling trends doing the rounds these days is the focus on the vintage look. To achieve the vintage look, a decent pair of jeans may actually go through a process of being ripped and torn at strategic places. Vintage jeans on the whole are meant to look like the pair of denim itself is past its prime and is not looked after properly.

Faded jeans for one are very popular as they have an old feel about them, and have been washed that way to achieve the intended look. When worn, the jeans themselves stand out. Distressed or destroyed jeans on the other hand, look as if the denim has been to hell and back, and are usually accompanied by holes, rips, tears and frayed hems as well. Sometimes the threads of the jeans may hang out in a ragged manner, but that is supposed to enhance the overall look.

 Many denim fans may actually choose not to purchase such jeans for themselves, and instead prefer to hang on to their favorite pair of jeans for years to come. Eventually, the jeans will take on a natural vintage look on their own. Fashionistas on the other hand may think otherwise.

 The more distressed the jeans, the higher its fashion quotient. To a large extent we have celebrities who made wearing torn jeans fashionable, to thank for. Jeans with a whisker wash are also quite trendy to be seen in and can make the person look very fashionable. Usually the jeans will have a few cat like scratch marks or whisker marks on the leg or just below the front pockets on the thigh. This kind of style is very popular among women.

Probably no other garment has been experimented upon so much as the humble denim. No matter what the wash, cut or label, it is one garment that sits differently on everybody.